Dorian Thompson-Robinson #1 of the UCLA Bruins runs with the ball while breaking a tackle by Jordan Clark #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Xazavian Valladay #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils runs with the ball while being defended by Stephan Blaylock #4 of the UCLA Bruins during the first quarter at Sun Devil Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Trenton Bourguet #16 of the Arizona State Sun Devils looks to throw a pass while being defended by Laiatu Latu #15 of the UCLA Bruins during the first quarter at Sun Devil Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson #1 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first quarter at Sun Devil Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Jake Bobo #9 of the UCLA Bruins is up ended while carrying the ball as Merlin Robertson #8 of the Arizona State Sun Devils looks on during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins looks up at the scoreboard during a stop in play against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies (24) shoves Arizona State wide receiver Bryan Thompson (22) away from the football on a pass play during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State quarterback Trenton Bourguet warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State tight end Messiah Swinson (80) beats UCLA linebacker JonJon Vaughns (21) as Swinson makes a touchdown catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA wide receiver Kazmeir Allen (19) breaks away from Arizona State defensive back Khoury Bethley (15) for a long gain during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State running back Xazavian Valladay (1) gets tackled by UCLA defensive back Stephan Blaylock (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State quarterback Trenton Bourguet (16) throws a pass against UCLA during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State defensive back Chris Edmonds (5) intercepts a pass intended for UCLA wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA defensive back Azizi Hearn (22) shoves Arizona State wide receiver Giovanni Sanders out of bounds during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA running back Keegan Jones (22) celebrates his touchdown against Arizona State with offensive lineman Josh Carlin (54), offensive lineman Jon Gaines II (57) and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) beats Arizona State defensive lineman Joe Moore (58) and defensive back Chris Edmonds (5) to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) throws a touchdown pass against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson celebrates his touchdown run against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) leaps over Arizona State defensive back Khoury Bethley (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) makes a catch behind Arizona State defensive back Isaiah Johnson (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State defensive back Khoury Bethley (15) flips UCLA wide receiver Kazmeir Allen during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona State defensive lineman B.J. Green II (35) celebrates his sack of UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
UCLA coach Chip Kelly talks with an official during the first half of the team’s NCAA college football game against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
TEMPE, AZ. — With everything to gain, No. 10-ranked UCLA football took care of business Saturday night against an Arizona State team with little to lose.
The Bruins won 50-36, keeping pace with No. 8 Oregon, No. 9 USC and No. 12 Utah (AP rankings) in the chase for berths in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Dec. 2 in Las Vegas. Oregon remains unbeaten in Pac-12 play with the other three at one conference loss.
The two teams with the best conference winning percentage will advance to the title game, perhaps with a chance to make the College Football Playoff semifinals that last included a Pac-12 team in the 2016 season.
UCLA (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) dominated for three quarters despite the absence of running back Zach Charbonnet, third nationally and the conference leader in rushing yard per game. The senior was in uniform with bandages on his arm and leg but did not play at Sun Devil Stadium.
The Bruins still rushed for 179 of their 333 first-half yards in building a 28-10 lead that made the second half seemingly academic especially after another UCLA touchdown on its initial third-quarter offensive possession.
Kazmeir Allen, also a wide receiver, and Keegan Jones were more than enough in the backfield along with the dual threat of quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Thompson-Robinson’s QB school record-tying 44th start began badly with an interception (his fourth of the season) on the Bruins first play from scrimmage.
UCLA men’s basketball has a new look with same lofty expectations
ASU (3-6, 2-4) kicked a short field goal off the turnover and later led 10-7 with 2:41 left in the first quarter before the Bruins scored the final 21 points of the first half with a pair of quick drives and another eating up 5:48.
The Sun Devils, who upset then No. 20 UCLA last season, closed within 35-18 in the third only for Allen to break off a 75-yard touchdown run on the Bruins’ ensuing possession. Allen had a 72-yard TD run a week earlier against Stanford.
In the fourth quarter, after UCLA lost a fumble on a snap exchange, ASU drove for a field goal, closing within two touchdowns (42-28) with 11:09 remaining. It was the Sun Devils’ first fumble recovery of the season.
Then after holding, ASU drove 69 yards for a touchdown and bold 2-point conversion, reducing UCLA’s lead to 42-36 with 6:24 remaining.
UCLA put out the fire on the ground with a 74-yard touchdown drive and its own 2-point conversion, going back on top by 14 with 2:30 left.
The Bruins finished with 571 yards total offense, 402 of that rushing (five rushing touchdowns). Allen and Thompson-Robinson had 100-yard rushing games with 137 and 120. Thompson-Robinson also threw for 169 yards and two TDs.
The Bruins surpassed 30 points for an 11th consecutive game. They return home against Arizona (3-6, 1-5) before hosting USC (8-1, 6-1) in what could determine one of the Pac-12 Championship Game berths.
